The measure, which came into force on 22 January, will continue until the end of the current state of emergency decreed by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, which ends at 11:59pm of 30 January.

"All public spaces in which there is usually an agglomeration of people, such as footbridges, pavements and beaches, are also closed," the Algarve municipality added in a statement.

However, exceptions were made for "residents for assistance and/or delivery of essential goods to vulnerable people, people with disabilities, children, parents, the elderly or dependents, for professional or similar activities and emergency situations," the municipality said.

Vila Real de Santo António, also in the district of Faro, was another of the municipalities that announced the closure of access to the footbridges of the municipality's beaches in order to "avoid the agglomeration of people" and "halt the spread" of Covid-19, given the worsening pandemic.

The local authorities have conditioned the access to the Santo António, Monte Gordo and Manta Rota beach passages, and only the owners and employees of restaurants that operate there and work on a 'take-away' basis, as well as the customers that will raise requests, are allowed access, clarified the municipality in the announcement made through the social networks.

Portimão City Council also conditioned access to several coastal areas and public spaces in the Algarve municipality to avoid crowding, and indicated that "specific bays and signs have been placed to condition access and permanence to areas where there has been more crowding in recent days".

Duly accredited workers can access public spaces conditioned by the municipality of Portimão, which has also banned the use of benches in public spaces and gardens.

“Photo used with permission from Ollie Richards at wetravelportugal.com, the original content can be found in their guide to Praia de Faro"